Abraham: The Journey of Faith

Genesis 12:1-4; 22:1-18

Today, we celebrate the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ as a point for our coming to the faith that he brought to the world. He showed us the need for this transformation experience from our old self to the new creation through baptism. We will use this experience to embark on our sermon series on renewed faith. I invite you to join me in this series of enlightening faith explorations. We will journey through the scriptures foundational to the Christian experience, shaping our spiritual understanding. Over the next three weeks, we will delve deeply into the essence of faith, unraveling its complexities and discovering its transformative power.

This series aims to inspire a renewed commitment to living a faith-filled life. These outlines are structured as Bible studies, incorporating times for reflection on our personal faith journeys. I believe these reflections will assist each of us as we navigate the challenges and triumphs of faith in our daily lives. Through each story, may we be reminded that faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains.

We start with Abraham, often referred to as the Father of Faith. Abraham embarked on a journey that significantly influenced the course of Biblical history. His story, beginning in Genesis 12, vividly illustrates faith in action. Today, we aim to learn from his journey, drawing lessons on how faith can guide us to God’s promises, even when we cannot see the entire picture.

The Call of Faith (Genesis 12:1): Abraham’s journey of faith began with God calling him to leave his homeland and family. This pivotal act of obedience prepared the way for a journey rich with God’s blessings.

Reflection: Have you experienced a ‘call of faith’ in your life? How did you respond? How can you become more attuned to God’s call?

In Genesis 12:2-3, God promises Abraham that He will make him into a great nation and bless all the peoples through him. Despite the improbability of this promise, Abraham chose to trust in God's word, demonstrating his profound faith.

Reflection: What promises of God are you holding onto? How does Abraham’s response inspire you to trust in God’s promises?

Abraham’s faith in God’s promises was credited to him as righteousness (Genesis 15:6; Romans 4:3). His unwavering belief, despite the physical evidence to the contrary, illustrates the profound connection between faith and righteousness.

Reflection: How does understanding that faith is counted as righteousness change your perspective? What does it mean to have righteousness through faith in your daily walk with God?

The Test of Faith (Genesis 22:1-18): Later in his life, Abraham faced a profound test of faith when God commanded him to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Despite the immense emotional burden this request posed, Abraham showed complete trust in God, demonstrating the maturity of his faith.

Reflection: Have you experienced times when your faith was tested? In what ways did those moments influence your relationship with God?

Abraham’s journey is a powerful testament to the life-changing power of faith. His story encourages us to step out in faith, trust God's promises, understand the righteousness that comes from faith, and remain steadfast during trials. As we navigate our own faith journeys, may Abraham’s example inspire us to trust God more deeply and act on our faith with greater boldness.